For this week’s assignment, we would like you to look at an archaeological problem from The Next Archaeological Workbook. In this case, The Neolithic of Arak, you are being asked to interpret archaeological data from a previous excavation of both a settlement and cemetery. By looking at the documents, plans and other materials, answer the questions posed in the last paragraph of Milquetoast’s letter about the rise of social complexity in this city and region. In order to look at the different nature of archaeological evidence obtained from cemeteries and settlements, and to help divide the work load, we would like those with last names from A-J to look at the settlement evidence and those in the L-Z group to look at the cemetery evidence. Please post your short paragraph comments by Thursday at midnight and we'll talk about it during class on Friday.
ARCH100_Ex5.pdfPlease only POST your comments below. DO NOT EDIT!
Posted at Apr 08/2010 04:57PM:
Brittany Dunn: The increase of the size and complexity of the society after the increase in agriculture may be because the society had more trading power, and therefore economic growth. As Milquetoast writes, the site was far from raw materials, which it needed for the society to grow. However, many of these raw materials were found at the site: obsidian in building A, room 2 and building D, room 1; building A, room 2 and building E, room 1; and turquoise in building A, room 3. According to Milquetoast, obsidian is found in Turkey, shells in the Persian Gulf, and turquoise in Sinai. The fact that these materials were found at the site indicates that Tell Al-Falafel was trading with these other areas for these goods. Because the figurines in the shrine were found near a dish of barley, this may indicate that they were goddesses of agriculture. If this society had goddesses of agriculture, it is most likely that agriculture was an important part of the society. Therefore, it is possible that agricultural goods were traded for the items of other areas, indicating how the Tell could grow in size and complexity. Through trade the Tell’s inhabitants could get what they needed to build a society.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 05:09PM:
Colaiacovo: Question: Is there evidence of cultural complexity at this settlement and is that linked to any other social developments?
This site suggests that the settlement had a developed system of agriculture/animal husbandry as there is evidence of multiple species of plants and animals. The presence of shells and obsidian is also evidence of interaction with other (distant) societies or regions, possibly through trade/travel/conquering or migration of peoples. The availability of these materials led to increased cultural complexity because it necessitated a division of space and enabled craftsmanship.
Different areas of this settlement seem to be designated for different purposes which indicates a degree of social cohesion, organization and planning. Buildings like A were for domestic purposes as evidenced by living/cooking/worship quarters. D and E were for industry as evidenced by presence of raw materials and artifacts (blades, rings). J was for animal husbandry (bones, possible trough). Buildings also may have been prioritized according to use (J is "poorly constructed" which suggests decay beyond that caused by time and formation processes). This division is the result of the diversification of activities made possible by the production of new products (plant and animal) and the materials obtained from other regions. With new products, this society was able to manufacture more goods (bone beads, obsidian knives, painted pots) and these processes in turn necessitate a division of space. Thus there is a link between the rise of agricultural processes and increased societal organization.
If room A1 is actually a shrine, this indicates a level of spiritual belief and religious sophistication. This worship is also heavily dependent on the success of agriculture, craftsmanship and interaction with other areas, as the shrine makes use of cultivated plants, domestic animals and worked materials (stone idols/statues). The expression of spirituality also incorporates products of industry, further supporting a link between the increased availability of raw materials, increased in manufacturing/production and social development.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 05:50PM:
Kelly Lougheed: The graves accompanied by a deposit of grave goods indicate increasingly complex societies that have graduated from simple disposals of bodies to ritual burials. Hints of agriculture appear in these complex graves, particularly in the form of pottery jars. In one grave, six painted jars contained carbonized wheat, barley, and peas--the likely remnants of an agricultural society. Pottery jars and pots appeared frequently in the stashes of grave goods, connecting the culture's increasing complexity--ritual burials--with materials that suggested storage of farming products, and by extension the practice of farming itself. The relatively advanced age of the buried individuals in the complex graves also suggested cultural advancement. There were several males in their 40s buried in complex graves, whereas the bodies found without grave goods were often only infants, or men who had died as early as their 20s. Additionally, the complex graves sometimes held male/female couples, possibly indicating marriage, although a DNA test would be necessary to confirm that the couples were not simply kin. The practice of marriage would definitely suggest a more complex, structured society, and the practice of monogamy (as these couples' burials suggest) would indicate a society that had transcended mere survivalism and could now appreciate emotional bonds. The presence of these cultural complexities in the graves that contain hints of agriculture--namely, the pots of food and storage vessels--point to a correlation between the development of agriculture and the dawn of increasingly complex societies.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 06:47PM:
Trent Huxley: The Settlement at Tell-Al Felafel shows the signs of a progression from simple stone buildings with fertile grazing and no raw resources to a area where Pigs, Sheep, and goat reminisce are found in abundance. The raw materials found on site like shells and mirrors show signs that these people had some connection with outside areas which could be connected to trade or wide grazing areas. This evidence along with the many indications of grazing herds that could provide ample food as well as the crop remains would leave additional leisure time for these people to develop or trade for the more luxurious items found at the site. When less time is devoted to gathering food which is allowed by the areas fertile grazing lands and farming lands the affect is going to be show on advances in culture. The religious figure in room A1 of most likely a type of fertility god shows that these people did focus some of their time on the development of religion and artifacts with which to worship. The Key to any society is food and once it is abundant then time will go towards cultural progression and advancing technology, which we have signs of through the artifact already uncovered.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 06:54PM:
Kent Holland: There are several interesting facets of the settlement that suggest increased cultural complexity and size as a result of agricultural development. As a base line, the cultivation of food is a limiting factor in any society (i.e. a tribe cannot expand beyond its capacity to feed everyone). Agriculture also seems to be a primary reason for the segmentation of the area into different functional spaces, suggesting increased organization. One such example is Building A, Room 3, which was likely devoted to raising animals. The development of sophisticated agriculture likely gave the people of Tell Al-Felafel more time to trade with other societies, as well as more time to develop tools and other crafts. This is seen through the diverse remains found throughout the site, including exotic raw materials that are far from the site itself. Many of these materials not only come from far away, but also come from different areas suggesting that widespread trade was possible. As agriculture can provide the basis for this growth, it acts as a catalyst for increased social complexity and population expansion.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 07:16PM:
Catherine McManus: The distinction between those graves with offerings and those graves without suggests an emerging social hierarchy, which is a sign of cultural complexity. There is no pattern of age or sex that determines whether an individual has grave goods, although it should be noted that the richest grave is for a male. Furthermore, the data suggests that this emerging social hierarchy is associated with and could be caused by a growth in agriculture. For example, burial 1 was found on top of burial 2, meaning that burial 1 was constructed after burial 2. Burial 2 contained no grave goods, while burial 1's grave goods included pots containing plant remains as well as a large quantity and high quality of other goods. This suggests that as time went by at this site, a social or religion shift occurred; it became common practice to bury goods with a body, and since these items included stored agricultural goods, this could imply that this shift was accompanied by or caused by growing agriculture.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 07:20PM:
Lisa O'Donovan: The evidence found at the cemetery of this site suggests that the cultural complexity of this particular civilization was directly connected with agricultural and technological developments that occurred during that time period. From looking at the excavated burials, it is clear that this society involved a social hierarchy of some sort; several burials included goods and offerings suggesting that the person was of high importance or rank. Also, the abundance and sophistication of the offerings found in the male burial sites was greater than that of the females. This suggests that the society was patriarchal. In addition, the content of the goods offered in the burial sites shows that the society was agriculturally advanced; several jars contained “carbonized wheat, barley, and peas,” indicating that this society was capable of harvesting and preserving their crops. Other evidence, for instance unhealed wounds on some of the excavated bodies, suggests that this society was culturally complex (perhaps they were ritually sacrificed?). And the fact that couples were sometimes buried together indicates that monogamous relationships existed. This evidence, coupled with the findings of the settlement, shows that this civilization was culturally complex as a result of such developments.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 07:26PM:
aiarocci: The evidence found at the settlement at Tell-Al Felafel clearly exemplifies that the appearance of agriculture lead to the increase of size and complexity. It seems that the town began with simpler stone structures, such as building J, that contained no traces of traded goods or stored goods, only coarse pottery, a poorly built shrine areas and no presence of traded goods. The bones found were a mix of both wild and some domesticated animals. As the settlement progressed and developed agriculture, the buildings became more complex. Building A and D show the development of larger more complex houses with stored food. This stored food, which includes barley, peas, wheat, and lentils are evidence of agriculture and surplus storage. By looking at the bones found in A and D, it appears as the settlements agricultural practices increased, their animal population increased as well. Also, their religious practices, as seen in the possible shrine of building A, became more complex with more deities and food offerings as the settlement prospered. Also, perhaps they became more complex because of trade. The evidence of obsidian and shell fragments and jewelry, in both building D and A shows that with their new found prosperity and saved time by not migrating and gathering, members of the settlement had interactions with outside groups. By having interaction with outside groups, the members of this settlement could learn about new advances in agriculture, mechanics and medicine. The prosperity that agriculture created for the settlement lead directly to its increase in the complexity of its daily life and religious practices.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 07:41PM:
Bridget Carroll:In response to Milquetoast’s letter about rising social complexity at the Tel Al-Falafel, the descriptions of the findings in the Buildings indicate a definite settlement pattern. The shrine he describes contain female figurines could indicate the importance of women in their society or perhaps certain burial rituals. The excessive amount of animal bones belonging to sheep, goats, cows, and pigs suggests the importance and dependency on farming/agriculture. It could also link the women’s role in society to farming or nurturing the animals. How he describes the artifacts found in the other buildings such as pottery and turquoise in one and hunting tools in the other proposes the sophistication of the society dedicating certain builings to specific occupations. I believe because Professor Rhys Pelaf had fallen ill there is a lot left to the imagination but the findings definitely suggest the importance of agriculture in response to the segmentation of different buildings in accordance to their function to the settlement.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 08:11PM:
Hiu Wai Lee:
The excavated cemetery does show some relation between the Tell-Al-Felafel community and agricultural practices. In grave 1, a couple of jars containing traces of crops were found. Given that the cemetery was located 200m southeast of Tell-Al-Felafel, it will be reasonable to suggest that some agricultural goods were carried from the town deliberately for ritualized burials.
Apart from that, the contents in the stratified graves speak a l ot about increasing social and cultural complexities. Through the layering of graves, it is clear that the ones found below date to earlier times and the ones on top date to later times. First, the nature and number of burial goods found in these graves are evidences of increasing social complexity. For example graves 1, 8 and 15, all lying on top of other graves, were found to have contained more sophisticated and abundant grave goods. All of these three graves have crafted objects such as blades with ivory handles that are absent in the graves below them. The fact that richer artifacts were placed in newer burials suggests advancement in technology and perhaps the rise in social wealth, hence the increase in social and cultural complexities. Second, evidences of wounds on bones in some of the graves also shed light on increasing complexity. In graves 1, 7 and 15, again all lying on top of other graves, the skeletons within show some signs of inflicted injuries, most evidently in the case of grave 1 where the buried male has a spearhead in his chest cavity. Along with artifacts like daggers and blades found with the skeletons, these burials demonstrate traces of violence and conflicts in which these individuals were victimized. Since internal and external conflicts of a society are likely due to an augmenting population and diminishing resources, it is plausible that the community is growing rapidly and becoming more complex.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 08:13PM:
Allison Barker: So Milquetoast asks the question why does after the appearance of agriculture, the settlements began to increase in size and complexity, and then he asks if the Tell al-Felafel data suggest increasing cultural complexity. And I must respond by saying that is exacting why Tell al-Felafel settlements increased in size and complexity. If one looks at building J, that is one of the original building for this settlement. I can say this because, firstly there are not any artifacts that can come from other settlements. There's domestic and wild animals, there's pottery jars, and ash filled pits. It's obvious that this building is not ever made with a high skill level. In fact, the building surrounds J are also low in quality. But then building D and E show a growing in complexity, because somehow these people made it to the Persian Gulf for shell and obsidian further north, or maybe these people came to Tell al-Felafel, anywho, there is some obvious exchange with the remaining artifacts in these two buildings. Also these building are growing in complexity and are much larger than the original ones. Lastly, building A shows a high point in these people complexity. Not are there separate rooms for different store rooms, but there is more importantly a shrine attached to these store rooms with perhaps fertility and agricultural goddess. And I can make that assumption due the barley and the proximity to the rooms. Also there is now turquoise in room 3, which means they were trading with the Sinai, so they would have had to cross the desert. So through these room we see the growth in this settlement. Also I would recommend that you probably don't go back, there's probably a very deadly disease, which could have killed off the population and that your previous team members caught. Cheers!
Posted at Apr 08/2010 08:22PM:
Kristen Kim: There are several indicators on this site of the presence of agriculture and animal husbandry. For one, there are several pottery jars filled with different grains in various rooms throughout the site and the presence of several millstones in multiple rooms. Also, the horn corns and several animal burnt bone piles indicate that they raised and domesticated animals. Next, the existence of a possible shrine shows the increasing cultural complexity of this society. The fact that the figurines were female and that a dish of barley was found on the same platform suggests that the people may have been making offerings to food/grain/agriculture deities. Agriculture indicates that a certain peoples are no longer nomadic and do not have to wander in search of food, suggesting the increasing societal complexity of this particular group of people. Finally, there seems to be much material on this site from beyond the locale, including obsidian, marine shells, turquoise, sandstone fragments. This indicates that this society was already trading with other nearby settlements—perhaps the very same Turkey, Afghanistan, Sinai, Persia you mentioned in your letter. Increase in trading ability and power is usually a good indicator of increasing cultural complexity as usually this means that the society at issue is settled enough to have materials of value to other societies.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 08:24PM:
Sarah Champagne: My response to Milquetoast's question would say yes it does seem of interest to continue the study at the site. The presence of shrines and female sculptures in one room may have to do with a sacrificial ritual that involved women or showed their importance in the society. The abundance of animal remains may indicate sacrifice or the large amounts of farming present in the society. There are also many hunting tools, such as arrowheads and ashes. This shows that hunting was important in the society and the possibility that fire destroyed their town. The turquoise and pot findings show wealth as well as craftsmanship that may deal with professions within the society. These findings may show that agriculture and crafting were the two main professions and things of importance within this society. I think there is much left to uncover and reveal from these previous findings.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 08:33PM:
Haley Strausser: The evidence found at the cemetery located southeast of the settlements at Tel Al-Falafel indicates the emergence of increasing cultural complexity. The fact that the bodies found were buried with varying degrees of grave offerings (from a sarcophagus containing pottery, jewelry, obsidian blades, and more to nothing whatsoever) shows that there was a hierarchy present in this society. Perhaps this hierarchy became even more pronounced with the introduction of agriculture because people were able to trade/sell their crops, creating competition and distinctive indicators of wealth. Other pieces of evidence that point to agriculture leading to increased cultural complexity are the 6 painted jars containing carbonized wheat, barley, and peas. The fact that these crops made it to the excavation of the cemetery shows that the people at the time had some way of preserving the crops they cultivated. The findings in the graves at the cemetery definitely suggest an increase in cultural complexity.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 08:54PM:
mlcarrol: There were many raw material found at the site which shows that the society was growing. It also shows that Tell Al-Falafel was trading with nearby cities for these goods. This site has a developed system of agriculture. There are many traces of plants and animals that tell us this. In some of the graves there were pottery jars, one grave has pottery jars containing wheat and barley, which indicates the complexity of agriculture. The graves containing grave goods were usually graves containing the older individuals. This represents the complex advancement in the society. Other graves without grave goods were younger people or infants. Some of the burials contained both a man and a woman, which we would guess that they are husband and wife and would confirm the advanced complex society. The large amount of animal bones indicates that there was either sacrifice or farming as a big part of the settlement. I think that agriculture is the main part of this settlement but that it should be investigated more because there is a lot that can be told from these graves.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 09:04PM:
scout: The findings at the cemetery denote some very reflect some interesting tendencies within this culture. Evidence of social hierarchy is instantly apparent in the dispersal of grave goods. The most lavish being graves 1,5,8, and 15. Three of these graves belonging solely to men and the last containing the bodies of a man and woman. These graves indicate complexities of this culture in the way of artisans and craftsman. The skill level of some of the goods such as the gold breastplate in grave 15 and the ivory dagger handle carved into the shape of an animal in grave 8 denote a high level of workmanship. These types of grave goods also indicate that this society had access to fine materials: ivory, turquoise, obsidian, lapis lazuli, and gold. Evidence also shows that there was difference in the types of grave goods that were given for the different sexes. The men had obsidian spearheads, daggers and blades while the women had shells, shell ornaments, obsidian mirrors and spindles. This could probably indicate a society in which the men were warriors and the women the caretakers. The spindles bespeak the importance of weaving in this culture. Another type of offerings that could be a symptom of cultural development were the stone female figures, which usually represent fertility and protection.Grave goods in general mean that they as a culture believed that in death you should have offerings with you. One of the most fascinating aspects of this cemetery lies in the possibility of sacrifices. In looking at the four richest graves, 1,5,8 and 15, you cans see that they all have smaller and far less furbished graves adjacent to them. Grave 1 has one burial of a young man connected to it, grave 5 has two females positioned horizontally across it, grave 8 has one female burial connected to it and grave 15 has one single burial of a male connected to it as well as a double burial of two males. While It is possible that some of these could have been family, it seems more likely to me is that these smaller less ornate burials were possibly sacrificed. The discrepancy of the grave goods as well as evidence of sacrificial wounds, such as the incisions on the front part of the neck on the female in grave 7, could be indications of a society in which the important members were given companions in the afterlife. All of these findings lead me to believe that this was a society of clear social distinctions, as well as distinctions in the roles and importance of the sexes. It is also clear that there existed some sort of spiritual beliefs that led to the addition of specific grave goods and (possible) sacrifices. This manifestation of ritual means that they cared what happened to their people when they died ( at least the important ones) On thing that is still not very clear is the presence of other bones just swept aside in the graves, this happened in 1, 8 and 16. It is more bizarre in graves 1 and 8 because they are the burials of obviously more important members of society.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 09:21PM:
Jan Bessey: Based on the data from the Tell Al-Felafel site, there does seem to be a connection between the rise of agriculture and cultural complexity. It would appear, based on the limited data, that some of the earliest structures in the site were those in the NE corner of the site, namely buildings E and J. Structure E is described as having small, windowless rooms and a narrow entrance, while building J is described as being poorly constructed. In these structures, marine shells, sandstone, many wild animal bones, few domestic animal bones, coarse sherds and pottery, and flint flakes were discovered. These contents contrast sharply with the contents of building A, which held a variety of domestic animal bones, few wild animal bones, woolen cloths, obsidian mirrors, unworked turquoise, bone beads, and many different types of grains and vegetables, among other items. The presence of stored grains and other foodstuffs indicates that while this building was in use, agriculture had arisen. The presence of stored foods was not noted in buildings E and J, indicating that agriculture was likely not practiced while that building was in use. In building A, which represents a period after the rise of agriculture, the artifacts found seem to indicate a greater cultural complexity than was found in the time of buildings E and J. The presence of obsidian and turquoise signifies trade between Tell Al-Felafel and different civilizations, and the presence of larger numbers of domestic animals likely means that growth in agriculture allowed them to sustain a steady supply of meat and other animal products. The mirror, beads, and woolen cloths show that the people of Tell Al-Felafel had also begun to manufacture certain items, possibly for trade. These facets of civilization do not appear to be present in the earlier buildings of the site, in the pre-agricultural period.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 09:29PM:
Elizabeth Vasily: The remains in the tombs indicate a connection between agriculture and increasing cultural complexity. The first tomb is very suggestive of this connection because the various items buried with the body represent a more sophisticated civilization. The “flint dagger with ivory handle carved to represent a snake”, as well as “obsidian mirrors”, and “shell ornaments” found in other bodies, indicate the presence of more advanced workmanship and art. Additionally, the materials found with the bodies, such as obsidian and turquoise, shows that perhaps they engaged in trade with other civilizations in order to attain these items (as these materials are not found in their own area but only in neighboring ones). The most significant indication of agriculture are the “6 painted jars containing carbonized wheat, barley, and peas”, which demonstrate that agriculture was indeed prevalent in their civilization. Perhaps they traded their agricultural products for precious stones and other materials, since the area was “good for farming and herding” (possibly more fertile than the other rocky areas containing the precious stones). Thus, they strengthened their culture by incorporating crafting and art into their society. Furthermore, the “lumps of unworked turquoise and lapis lazuli” and “large obsidian core” indicate that most likely they themselves crafted the various workings from these raw materials (i.e. they did not necessarily trade their foods only for materials already crafted by other cultures). It seems that some type of war had occurred, as the various buried bodies have cuts and wounds. The “spearhead of obsidian found lodged in the chest cavity” indicates that perhaps this man died in battle and could possibly be a war hero, and thus is honored with a variety of other obsidian spearheads. Additionally, the fact that some of the tombs have these goods and others are empty demonstrates that at some point there was a shift in agriculture that could have caused this progression in cultural complexity.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 09:54PM:
Mike Kelley: With the evidence given, it's hard to say for absolute certain whether or not there exists a correlation between the rise in agriculture and the increase in complexity for Tell Al-Felafel, but I believe that with a little more work on the site, that the evidence would show a strong relation between the two. The remains in Building A could denote a link between religion and agriculture. The figurine found in Room 1 had what could have been an offering next to it and the wide hips on the figure often signify fertility, which is commonly linked to agriculture. Room 2 has a mixed bags of goods with rare items from distant areas, much like the obsidian knives found in Building D as well. Since these items are made out of precious metals, they would have had to be negotiated for either by trade or force, both of which show a complexity of society. However, all the millstones, jars and bones of animals scattered in and around the buildings along with the favorable layout of the land might point towards Arak being a powerhouse on arable land rather than bloodstained land. To have the ability to mass produce agricultural foodstuffs and raise domesticated animals shows as big advancement of the society, and once tied in with a possible religious system and trade network, the evidence seems to say that yes, there was a strong correlation between the rise in agriculture and cultural complexity.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 09:55PM:
Do Hyun Kim: By examining grave 1 and 5, we can learn a great deal about the state of complexity in society. Grave goods of spearheads and dagger blades show that men in this society use these weapons to either hunt or fight off enemies while preservation of carbonized wheat, barley, and other staples indicates an advance in agricultural activities. Excavation of lapis lazuli and turquoise is especially important in that it signifies the dead man's higher status. The specialization of labor and introduction of agriculture most likely led men to hunt or herd animals while women grew crops. By doing so, men shared higher social status compared to women. Obsidian mirrors and ornaments were found in graves 6 and 7, which belonged to two teenage females. These items indicate the women's interest in appearance and cosmetic but do not necessarily signify their elite position in society. Grave 8 is the the one that is filled with the most goods ranging from marine shells to a soft stone female figurine. This man probably was affluent and influential in this society, which confirms my explanation of social hierarchy. In order to obtain more concrete analysis, we need to excavate more samples from the 190 known but untouched graves.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 09:55PM:
Claire Straty: From the various findings within the cemetery, a taste for the past culture of the site can be felt – the evidence in the southeast shows great cultural intricacy. The society consisted of a social hierarchy as evidenced by differing types of grave offerings. They ranged from ceramics to jewelry and obsidian blades (and these artifacts also indicate high workmanship). Also, the graves void of any grave goods played host to From the surrounding goods and their high quality, it is clear that Tel Al-Falafel was a trading city and had a developed system of agriculture
Posted at Apr 08/2010 09:55PM:
Claire Straty: From the various findings within the cemetery, a taste for the past culture of the site can be felt – the evidence in the southeast shows great cultural intricacy. The society consisted of a social hierarchy as evidenced by differing types of grave offerings. They ranged from ceramics to jewelry and obsidian blades (and these artifacts also indicate high workmanship). Also, the graves void of any grave goods played host to From the surrounding goods and their high quality, it is clear that Tel Al-Falafel was a trading city and had a developed system of agriculture
Posted at Apr 08/2010 10:20PM:
Amy Heuer: The large jars of wheat, barley, peas, and lentils found in Room 3 of Building A suggest that the people of Tel Al-Felafel had not only begun to practice agricultural activities, but they had also figured out how to store these foods for later consumption. These stores of food probably radically changed the amount of time the people were able to devote to other things. With their new time, they could perhaps focus on trade with outlying communities. The excess grains could have been traded for objects like the obsidian and lapis lazuli that are found at the site although they are not native to it. With the changing dining culture in the community came other changes, therefore. As goods and people came into Tel Al-Felafel, so did new ideas and new practices, the confrontation of and engagement with which would have enriched the culture of Tel Al-Felafel. Other possible evidence of the development of a culture in Tel Al-Felafel is found in Building E. It seems to have had two possible uses based on its architecture and the artifacts left in it. The space might also have been used as a storeroom for goods. The piles of substances found there supports this theory. Another potential usage arises when the jewelry found in the rooms is considered. The building might suggest that the space was used as a prison, although the absence of bones might refute this possibility. If it were, however, it would be more evidence of cultural tendencies. Jails and systems of punishment imply a system of laws, and thus specific, shared beliefs about morality.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 10:23PM:
Susana Ortega: With the findings that are shown in the cemetery, there can be an assumption of cultural complexity for Tell Al-Felafel. There were many evidence that showed painted jars, which is an indication of agriculture. One of the graves even contained 6 painted jars with carbonized wheat, barley, and peas. This shows how this person was particularly rich in agriculture. It also shows that males were able to contain better richness in agriculture than females. It also shows how those who were male and older than mid-20s were found better in agriculture which shows how agriculture had increased society in Tell Al-Felafel. One male who was 30 years old had 6 painted jars and one who was 40 had 5 painted jars, whereas those in their mid-20s or less had none or two painted jars.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 10:38PM:
Candice Sisouvanvieng-Kim: The graves in the cemetery at the Tell Al-Felafel indicate a definite relationship between the rise of some sort of trade system and social complexity. The items found in the graves seemed to be items which were acquired by trade. Obsidian daggers, lapus lazuli jewelry, painted jars, ivory and turquoise figurines, and shells were all items found at the burial site. The raw forms of obsidian, lapus lazuli, shells and turquoise were located in different locations, all far from Tell Al-Felafel, which indicate these items were traded for something. Also, given that some graves are more lavishly decorated than others show there was social hierarchy. Some people were definitely more important and wealthier than others. It is also interesting to note that most of the most lavishly decorated graves were those of men. The only exception was in grave 15, the double burial of the old couple. This grave features many fine offerings which indicate respect for the elderly or perhaps this was even the grave of a couple with power within the community. The richest grave belonged to a young male in his mid-20s. The male’s bones revealed an unhealed puncture wound in his chest which could indicate that he was killed by another human. Perhaps this young man was some sort of war hero which could indicate the community’s respect to its warriors. The presence of many plain graves often containing not much more than unpainted pots, reveal that there were several social levels in this community. Perhaps it was the people in these plain graves who were the farmers of the society who created the stock with which the elite traded with.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 10:39PM:
dcopperm: This site is consistent with the trend of the formation of settlements and their increase in size and complexity after the appearance of agriculture and its harvest byproducts. The site's location is not near a main water source nor is it near sources of raw materials. While this may seem like a limitation, evidence of necessary materials and the complexity of organization and delegation are seen throughout the site. The site is scattered with separated rooms and locations of sophisticated containers of raw materials in an organized manner, including pottery for example, designed to separate seeds for different crops and preserve them. Further, there is evidence of a capacity of the agriculture to support large animals, which would provide food and clothing. This shows that the society living in this area planned for planting seasons and harvests, had a hierarchy and was quite developed. The spindle whorls and weights, as well as the cobblestones, indicate a complex ability to use the products of the community's agriculture, such as wool from sheep, leather from other animals and thread from planted cotton to produce goods for use, protection and trade. The millstones show a sophisticated ability either through water or wind power, to grind grain, which could then have been used for other multiple purposes. The separation of food surplus into different rooms and locations, as in Building A, Room 3, further indicates that Tell Al-Felafel was a major trade stop. This function is necessary for a settlement's sustenance when it is not located near natural water sources. The increase of trade and knowledge learned from travelers and others passing through increased the understanding of the production of goods and of the agricultural techniques of the settlement. The influx of different ideas lead to increased cultural and religious tendencies and rituals as seen in Building A, Room 1. The complexity and sophistication of this settlement was enhanced and the ability for the settlement to prosper and grow was a direct result of the increase in trade and movement of goods, which was derived from and dependent upon the complex agricultural system in place at Tel Al-Felafel. Based on these field notes and diagrams, additional work at this site would be desirable and undoubtedly fruitful.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 11:02PM:
Sarah Ebert: Professor Pelaf’s field notes describe his excavations of the various rooms and those items found with the rooms. Some evidence for an agricultural society can be seen in room 3 of building A, in which he found clay jugs of barley, wheat, peas, and lentils. Interestingly, he found many rooms with obsidian chips and objects as well as some turquoise lumps and marine shells. Since Tell Al-Felafel is located far from the sources of these items, one can infer that the society had some means of acquiring them; most likely this society was trading agricultural goods for these items. Knowing that some sort of trading was occurring leads us to infer a more sophisticated and complex society. Another point to notice in the field notes is the spatial separation of different activities; a shrine in one room, a domestic area in another and so forth. This spatial organization along with the apparent trade activity implies a more complex and established society.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 11:25PM:
Zoe Wheeler: There's a lot in the cemetery evidence here that suggests a complex society developing along side agriculture. Firstly, the age of many of people buried with offerings was in the 40s, suggesting increased longevity. Secondly, the fact that many were buried with offerings at all shows how culture of the society has advanced past simply chucking bodies into the ground and instead has developed a ritualistic disposal system. Furthermore, the fact that some, like the 20 year old man in what appears to be the largest grave, had more offerings then others, speaks to social hierarchy within the civilization. Lastly, the fact that offerings included both things like carbonized barley as well as lapus lazuli were found in the graves suggest that the society had not only mastered agriculture but also trading - lapus lazuli, for instance, is not found particularly near Tell Al-Felafel, and thus must have been attained through trade, or, I suppose war; either one of which speaks to a culturally complex society.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 11:40PM:
Bart Johnsen-Harris: It is difficult to tell certain things from these archaeological finds, and many conclusions would be guesses rather than facts. However, it is clear that domestication had entered into the culture and that agriculture had been established. By nature, both of these practices create more work and require more specialized jobs; compared to hunting and gathering, it is far more complex to have a society sustaining itself rather than taking from outside the community. It is more efficient, but also more complex. This can be observed by some of the millstones, which exhibit the need to produce the crops after they are grown and picked. Additionally, the spears may indicate that the society still relied partially on hunter-gatherer techniques to compliment domesticity and agriculture. The boxes may not tell too much, but it can be inferred that perhaps there was a trade network either within the civilization or amongst communities. The unworked turquoise also suggests this, as there is little utilitarian use for such a stone; while it is unworked, the fact that turquoise had been collected indicates that it had some value.
Posted at Apr 08/2010 11:43PM:
Barnhart: Professor Pelaf's excavations of the buildings found at the site unveil interesting clues about the cultural and economic development of the site's inhabitants.
Building A contains a wealth of exotic goods and provocative artifacts leading to an array of potential interpretations. The presence of domesticated sheep, goat, cow, and pig remains suggest an advanced understanding of animal husbandry; meanwhile, the stored wheat, barley, pea, and lentil remains in A3 indicate a diversified agricultural landscape. Far flung resources, e.g. obsidian-based products, turquoise, and quartz, suggest an active trade or plunder in these exploited goods from elsewhere (the prevalence of arrowheads on-site may favor the militant reading). Marine shells might indicate trade with the Persian Gulf, but this could be a misinterpretation of sea levels since influenced by isostatic forces or other climatic shifts. Given these clues, one may interpret Building A as a communal granary or shrine, but given it would seem likely based on the level of economic development that socioeconomic stratification has occurred in this society, it may also represent an upper class residence or (given its proximity) a funereal parlor for deceased war-heroes.
Building D provides more evidence in favor of a war-like society with division of labor and social stratification on the basis of its specialized artifacts. The well-crafted obsidian blades/blade cores, along with the flake debris, indicate the structure may have housed a skilled obsidian artisan, possibly a weaponsmith.
Building E furthers the apparent societal division of labor, as well as providing evidence for cultural artistic development in the form of marine shell rings. The sheer quantity of shells present intensifies the mystery surrounding the apparent distance to modern day shoreline. A geologist should be consulted.
Finally, Building J presents perhaps the best evidence of social stratification, evident in its poor construction. While similar in some respects to the contents of Building A, the reduced variety of luxury items coupled with the noted construction deficits suggest this may be the dwelling of a lower class member of society.
In conclusion, the limited evidence provided does suggest quite a lot of cultural complexity is present at the site, including agriculture, animal husbandry, division of labor, socioeconomic stratification, arts & crafts, and trade/war-plunder activity. More investigation is warranted.
Posted at Apr 09/2010 12:01AM:
Rachel Schwartz: The Foundation is soliciting the investigation of a potential connection between agriculture and subsequent cultural complexity at Tell Al-Felafel. To best establish such a relationship, archaeologists must examine the correlation between attributes indicating the utilization of agriculture, and those suggesting a complex and advanced society. Within the confines of the data provided from the cemetery, items indicative of agriculture primarily consist of storage vessels, in which food typically was kept (and, per observation, is often still kept, in the form of carbonized residual grains and vegetables). Attributes intimating a complex society are not as salient or clear-cut but, nevertheless, undoubtedly exist, and often demonstrate correlations with storage vessels. Moreover, instances in which one grave has been situated atop another (e.g., 1&2, 8&4, 15&14&16) are particularly helpful in such an investigation, for, applying the Law of Superposition, the grave lower in the strata was deposited before its higher-up counterpart, and is therefore very likely older. Thus, layered graves show a progression from one time and civilization to another. First, the very existence of grave offerings ought to be considered. Offerings of this sort suggest a ritual burial, and a coinciding belief in a religious system, which constitutes one variety of complexity within a society. Grave 2 lacks any offerings whatsoever, and was thus probably not performed with ritualistic intentions. Grave 1, however, lies directly above Grave 2 (and thus pertains to a later period), and contains many lavish items, among which are six painted jars containing carbonized food remains—confirming the exploitation of agriculture at that time. In this way, agriculture and societal complexity are in fact correlated: evidence of agriculture is accompanied by evidence of societal complexity. Another indication of advanced society is the improved aesthetics and heightened quality of materials of the pottery and artifacts. In Grave 4, for instance, a body is buried with two coarse pottery jars that are unpainted and broken. Grave 8, however, which lies above Grave 4 and is thus more recent, is saturated with intricately painted and decorated pottery made of fine materials such as obsidian, lapis lazuli, shells, ivory, etc. Grave 8 is indicative of a society more advanced than that of Grave 4 for two reasons. First, the added artistic element of Grave 8’s painted pottery suggests a more cultured society. Second, according to Figure 5.1, materials, such as obsidian, used to make the pottery and accompanying artifacts in Grave 8 are not easily procurable, but lie at a very far distance from the gravesite (which is 200m southeast of Tell Al-Felafel). One can deduce that Grave 8’s civilization had highly-developed modes of transportation, that allowed them to acquire and then abundantly use such distant resources. Grave 8 not only demonstrates a more advanced society, but also a society that was more dependent upon agriculture, sporting more storage vessels than Grave 4 (5 to 2, respectively). Thus, agriculture and societal complexity is further correlated. A consistent increase in the age-of-decease also suggests a more advanced society, implying progress in the field of medicine and health-related knowledge. In every observable instance of layered-graves in which the two (or more) bodies are of the same gender (and are thus more accurately comparable), the inhabitant of the uppermost grave died at an age older than that of the lower grave’s inhabitant. Moreover, the uppermost graves consistently hold more storage vessels, indicating a greater dependency on agriculture in those periods. Thus, the correlation is further bolstered that, as utilization of agriculture increases, societal complexity increases as well. Perhaps this correlation exists because the introduction of agriculture absolved the civilization from the necessity to hunt for its sustenance—a rather time-consuming and physically-demanding activity. With the extra energy and leisure time that agriculturally-based societies afforded the people, they were able to develop intellectually and culturally.
Posted at Apr 09/2010 12:21AM:
Jennifer Steger: The limited evidence provided at this site (The Cemetery) indicates that a society of increasing agricultural, social, and cultural complexity once flourished. Several burial offerings in particular suggest a society which emphasized the importance of agriculture; primarily, the 6 unpainted jars containing carbonized wheat, barley, and peas. The pottery jars found in numerous graves also illuminate the importance of agriculture in this society, as it is likely that the jars were once used to store food or water, or used for food preparation and/or cooking purposes. In addition to the presence of these goods, the female stone figurines located in several graves are indicative of a society that once valued fertility and the role of the female in society. From this, one can infer that citizens of the society practiced monogamy, further suggesting the existence of a socially complex society. Furthermore, in broad terms, the fact that offerings have been made at all (versus the bodies haphazardly stacked upon one another in a ditch) indicates that the society believed in the existence of an afterlife, or the continuation of the soul after death in some capacity--thus suggesting the endorsement of conceptually advanced thoughts about life and death.
Posted at Apr 09/2010 01:03AM:
AJ Fitzgerald: Throughout the site, there is strong evidence of agricultural activity. Jars of carbonized crops, remains of domesticated animals, and features such as millstones, etc. make this readily apparent. The proximity of some of these finds to religious materials, particularly the discovery of barley, horn cores and goat/sheep bones in the alleged shrine (A1) suggest that agriculture had become an important facet of this peoples' culture. Finally, the discovery of precious stones, marine shells, and other valuable materials that are not ordinarily found in the vicinity of this sight suggest that this settlement was an active trading partner of neighboring civilizations. It would seem that agricultural products were mostly likely their chief export. In short, wealth accrued from agriculture seems the main driving force in the expansion and development of this particular settlement.
Posted at Apr 09/2010 01:36AM:
Viviana Martinez:The appearance of agriculture allowed cultures to live in one area and rear cattle and have permanent storage capabilities for food. The growing complexity and advancement of the society at Tell Al-Felafel is apparent in the burial practices performed by the society and other preservations in the artifacts found along with the burials. A handful of the bodies found in the graves were pretty well aged, with some males reaching ages of the mid-forties. Some of the graves had offerings while others didn't which could signify a hierarchical system of superiority, a part of a more complex role society. Jars found in the graves were decorated and painted which emphasizes their importance; they contained carbonized wheat, barley, and peas among other cultivated foods. Many bodies were decorated with ornaments and weapons such as flints, knives and daggers. All were made of precious materials and decorated themselves. One dagger had an ivory handle and was in the form of an animal, with a fine flint blade. There are obsidian dagger blades and a large chest ornament of beaten native gold among others. One of the richest graves found had a decayed wooden sarcophagus. In another area there appear to be two bodies found in the same grave which could signify that the society's lack of mobility due to stable agriculture allowed for deeper social bonds and loyal marriages for lack of a better term. The data found at Tell Al-Felafel suggests that agriculture contributed to the development of society, advanced and elaborate weaponry, and social systems such as burials
Posted at Apr 09/2010 03:24AM:
Artemis Stamatiadis:The site of Tell Al-Felafel definitely supports the idea that agriculture increases cultural complexity. The cemetery especially can help our understanding of this, because of the various strata found. It is evident that the burials on the higher levels of the ground are more complex and elaborate. There have been more offerings and artifacts found and more signs of social hierarchy. For example, graves 1, 8, 15 have been done over previous burials. Graves 4, 2, 14 and 16 have few offerings (in some cases none) that usually consist of coarse pots. On the other hand, the later tombs have various weapons, objects of vanity such as mirrors and jewelry, precious stones and jars. The weapons suggest a society involved in warfare and thus, a large enough population to have conflicts and power-struggles. Also because of the variety of materials found, such as precious stones and metals we can assume that this is a society involved in trade and thus the weapons may have been used to protect themselves from outside threats. Objects related to beauty are signifiers of the existence of leisure time and an interest in matters other than everyday survival. With the presence of more artifacts in the bigger graves, there is also an indication of social hierarchy. The dead buried with a greater amount of goods were probably more privileged during their lives compared to the other dead. Also, in developed communities the presence of religion is more noticed. These artifacts found in Tell Al-Felafel may be buried with the dead because of the belief of an after-life, in which the deceased would want his personal objects. Furthermore, the presence of stone figures such as the ones found in the shrine of Building A emphasize the development of religious beliefs. We can even notice a clear social differentiation between the two sexes. We can assume that men were seen as the powerful sex because of the many weapons found in their graves. In contrast, the women mostly have objects related to beauty and domestic activities, such as mirrors, seashells and spindle whorls. Finally, the deceased from the later graves seem to have lived longer. With the exception of grave 8 must age-groups are between 30-40 years old. In the earlier burials the longevity of the deceased seem to reach the age of 20-30 years old.
Posted at Apr 09/2010 05:40AM:
Brandon Tomasso: As evinced from this sample of the archaeological record at Tell Al-Felafel, this Neolithic society demonstrates an increase in size and complexity.
Primarily, the appearance of offerings in goods signifies a heightened regard for death and the afterlife. Instead of simply burying dead, they are acting upon their speculations about what occurs after death and their respect for the deceased. The presence of the grave goods implies they sought to assist the dead in achieving a rewarding afterlife by supplying certain tools as well as formally honoring them for their contributions to their society.
Also, we see an increasing complexity in this study through the distinctions between the graves containing goods. Differentiations in grave goods are evident between ages, sexes and that which we may classify as “status.” Some received more than others, some even received different items entirely.
We can also infer that the society is increasing in size due to its apparent connection to agriculture. The Jars held various forms of grain they must have grown. Also, the fact that they were even able to spare food in favor of honoring dead with it implies that their system worked; i.e. they were no longer hard pressed to find food to put on the table. Thus, we can conclude that the society increased in size as a result of the agricultural system and its ability to make food readily available to all.
Posted at Apr 09/2010 08:49AM:
Brendan M. Burke: Based on the appearance of large, stored amounts of animal and agricultural products, as well as tools for processing such products, we can begin to presume that this was, indeed, a society that was advanced in both farming and animal husbandry. Usually, the development of such societies lays the foundation for more complex social functions, such as trade and increases in technology. At Tell al-Felafel, I believe there to be evidence of trade and organized retrieval of resources, as well as advanced religious structure. Throughout Building A, we find domesticated agricultural and animal products: wheat, peas, barley, lentils, sheep, goats, cows, and pigs. Due to their sheer amount, and the prevalence of pottery, I think we can understand that it was widely stored, and that there was a capacity to feed more people than this small settlement would have held. In this case, the habitants would have had the ability to trade or the time to explore things outside of their livelihood. The obsidian, quartz, and shells, which were not readily available in the area, evidence that the people had an ability to trade with other settlements, or to travel to find them. The clay platform and the niche in Building A Room 1 could very well represent a shrine. In the room, the female figurines could relate to fertility, or the worship of a “mother goddess.” In this case, we see small markers of a cult, which I believe to have only been possible through the ability to store food and animal product.
Posted at Apr 09/2010 09:32AM:
Megan Hochstrasser: The artifacts and structures recorded at the Neolithic site strongly suggest that this was a fairly advanced agricultural society. The abundance of sheep, pig, goat, and other domesticated animal bones and the relative scarcity of wild animal bones indicates that the people of Tell Al-Falafel practiced animal husbandry rather than hunting. The presence of several buildings with rooms dedicated to different activities also supports the idea that the people who lived here were not nomadic hunter-gatherers, but rather the residents of a developed agricultural settlement. It is likely that each room had a different purpose (e.g. cooking, food storage, tool making, animal enclosure, worship). This may be a consequence of division of labor/specialization – people had varied and specific occupations. These findings prove that Tell Al-Falafel hosted an advanced agricultural society.
There is solid evidence that the development of agriculture led to increasing cultural complexity. It compelled the people here to create buildings devoted to agricultural activities and to make tools to be used for farming, animal husbandry, food processing, etc., and implement a division of labor. It is also clear that this society engaged in trade with neighboring areas. Tell Al-Felafel is far from sources of exotic materials, yet many of these (obsidian, shell, turquoise, et al) were found at the site. It is likely that in return for such precious items, the people traded their main resources – food products and animals. In sum, the development of agriculture seems to have directly led to advanced cultural activities, and the Institution could potentially gain insight into the complexity of this phenomenon if the site were further excavated.
Posted at Apr 09/2010 09:38AM:
vic showalter: An analysis of the cemetery based on the artifacts collected and the layout of the site comes to the conclusion that the society that dug these graves was advanced in agriculture and animal husbandry. In the graves offerings were found for the after life. This signifies that the society had some ritualistic beliefs or customs for burials which only be created within a developed society. We also see the evolution of the society through the graves that have been buried over (graves 2,4,14,16). These graves have either been buried over or pushed to the side by other graves. The graves that have been buried over do not contain many offerings for the after life, so they must have dug while the society was still young and developing since there was not much regard for the after life or the society could simply not produce enough artifacts to put in the graves. The graves that were buried above 2,4,14,16 were graves 1,8,15 these are three of the most decorated and artifact rich graves which would have been dug at a later time when the society was more advanced.
We can tell the the society was advanced in agriculture because of the offerings that were placed in the graves. In many graves pots containing carbonized wheat was found also barley and peas were found. The many weapons that were found indicate that the society also hunted and was warlike. In the more decorated graves many spearheads and daggers were found also some of the bodies had died from severe trauma maybe caused from battle.
The final thing to look at is that the graves that wee not buried over but did not have any offering were dug as almost holes in the ground. Te bodies were not laid neatly they were simply place in the grave and buried but the more decorated grave that were dug later in the societies timeline were dug in more neat rectangles and the bodies were laid to rest on their backs instead of just thrown in the ground this shows that there was more effort and time taken in to burying the dead.
From these observations of the artifacts and layout of the site we can conclude that the society excavated was in fact very developed society that had developed over time.
Posted at Apr 09/2010 10:01AM:
Michael Johnson: The Tell Al-Felafel data suggest connections between between agriculture and cultural complexity. The figurines found at both the burial sites and the shrine and the burned animal bones suggest the existence of a religion involving sacrifice and a reverence for women. Judging from the presence of domestic animal bones and organized jars of food and materials, the structures on the southwestern end of the map (Building A) exhibited more complexity than the structures on the northeastern part of the map, which were poorly built and contained more wild animal bones. The marine shells found at building E signify the transition to trade. Moving more southwest (Building D), there was a large supply of obsidian, which further indicates that the Tell Al-Falafel were trading with other groups around them and that they were using specific buildings for the specific purpose of processing and storing the goods they found. Therefore, as the people moved from the northeast to the southwest, they must have been benefitted by agriculture and trade, which lead to higher sophistication and complexity.
Posted at Apr 09/2010 10:31AM:
Misa Scharfen: At the cemetary in Tel Al-Felafel, there are signs of increasing cultural complexity. In the graves offerings were found for the after life, and the amount of goods put into the grave can point to a certain level of hierarchy. This hierarchy becomes more obvious with the introduction of agriculture. The graves that were buried over (2,4,14,16) were most likely dug when the society was at a developmental stage due to the lack of artifacts in comparison to the other graves. Graves 1, 8, 15 were rich in artifacts and most likely buried at a later time than the previous graves, and thus show the change in society through the times. Other graves had less burial artifacts. The introduction of agriculture is clear because the grave offerings include pots that contain carbonized wheat, along with barley and peas. Furthermore, the “newer” graves contain many more weapons, which indicates a society where good hunters or warriors are celebrated. Overall these signs point to society that is growing in complexity due to the hierarchy seen in graves (those with gifts for the afterlife, and those without to varying degrees), the agricultural remains and the weaponry.
Posted at Apr 10/2010 02:40AM:
Maggie Goter: Dear Bureaucrat Milktoast: Please excuse the lateness of my reply. Unfortunately, State University's computer system wasn't able to open the field notes you sent me until this afternoon. After careful review of the Pelaf Expedition's notes and drawings, I must conclude that further study is needed to tell whether or not a socially complex system developed over time at the Tell Al-Falafel site and whether a complex system would have been related to the development of agriculture.
Buildings A, D, and E all show a clear pattern of social stratification, a division of labor, and a sophisticated trade network which indicate a complex society at the Tell Al-Falafel site. Building A displays a religious area, indicating both that the settlement had the social complexity necessary for religion and that it was wealthy enough to dedicate goods as offerings. The unworked turquoise indicates a skilled artisan class as well as the merchant class necessary to transport the stones. Buildings D and E also demonstrate the community's division of labor and probable class system, with work areas devoted to obsidian in building D and shell jewelry in building E.
Building J could be interpreted two ways. Professor Pelaf notes that both the building and the pottery within are poorly constructed, and that pottery and flint refuse are found in the same location as debris from animal husbandry and milling equipment. The lack of sophistication leads one to conclude that building J predates the other buildings the team excavated, which would suggest that the society did indeed grow in social complexity over time. However, building J appears to be built on top of the foundations of building K, suggesting that J is not from the earliest period in the settlement's history. If the Tell Al-Felafel site was inhabited long enough for multiple layers of construction to occur, it is possible that J predates A, D, and E, but a pottery chronology study or other analysis would be required to confirm that the poor construction and lack of sophistication/stratification are not just due to poverty or other social rather than chronological factors. The same is true of the goods from the site: a lack of goods from outside the region may indicate that the building was in use before trade routes were established, or it may simply mean that the inhabitants did not have the money to purchase expensive luxury goods. I understand that your Foundation is loathe to shell out more money for further study, but either a simple chronology analysis of the materials that have already been excavated or a stratigraphy analysis of the current excavation will do much to further our understanding of the social development of the Tell Al-Falafel site.
